Tuesday, April 28, 2009

early summer in the city.

I'm in the best mood ever. It's an absolutely beautiful 90 degree day in Boston today. Women are in the midst of cute little lunches at outdoor cafes here on Boylston, men are in chipper sunny moods over the Sox winning streak. Spring is the best time ever to be in Boston. There is absolutely no place else I'd rather be, which means I need to save every cent this summer (after my trip to Jamaica that will put a nice dent in my bank account) so I can afford to live closer to--if not in--the city. It is where I'm happiest, it has been since I was a little girl. I love the people, I love the fact that no matter what day it is there's always something going on, and I love the feeling I have when I am here. Like I am a part of something bigger than myself. It's kind of hard to explain. I wouldn't live in any other city besides Boston-- because even though it's a city, there is such a sense of community here it's unbelievable. We have the Red Sox. We have the Celtics. We have the return of the Bruins. We have the North End and Southie and the gorgeous public gardens. A few days ago I was beeping Twitter's horn.. now it's all about my city. There are just few things that can make me so happy and excited. Boston is one of those things. The beach too. And Christmas time. And of course, seeing Kevin.

Ah, the simple things. :)

Monday, April 27, 2009

#1 blurb.

I wish I could better say what's on my mind. I think I'm kind of chicken when it comes to certain things.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

tweet tweet.

I really am trying to get my friends to JUMP into Twitter. So far, the only success I've had is with my MOM, and I still dont think she really gets it.
Direct complaint from Kathy Richmond: "I'm twittering the Red Sox and they're not twittering me back! How come!?"

Friends have been asking me questions like "Who cares what other people are doing?" or "Who cares what I'm doing?" and also "I'm already on Facebook so why should I be on Twitter?"
I am definitely not claiming to be an expert on Twitter, but I am a huge fan and hope to get as many as you guys as possible to be as smitten with it as I am. I've only been on since January (thanks to Maria who got me hooked and knows far more about it than I do.) She said I'd be on it more than Facebook, and at first I didn't think I would be and I didn't really think there was a point to it. Well bud, you told me so.

I rarely go on Facebook anymore, and I used to be a legitimate Facebook Addict. I'll only go on now just to upload pictures or creep on people when I'm bored. It's all Twitter's fault.

HOKAY friends & Kevin, this is why Twitter rocks hard:

Have no patience like oh, I don't know, me? Twitter is QUICK. Follow the people you want to follow. For instance, I like to get local news updates ASAP--even before they hit news websites & tv broadcasts. Here's some that I follow.

That way, I can get a ton of the latest local news by going to one site. I don't even have to read the whole story, since each "tweet" can only be 140 characters or less. That way, if the story looks interesting I can click through and if it doesn't, I can ignore it. And no need to deal with annoying pop-up ads or not being able to find what you want. (Toot toot, I'm laying on Twitter's horn right now.)

My boyfriend who for some reason is completely anti-Twitter (I think it's partly because I am anti-Hondaforums) asked "Who cares what other people are doing?"
This is my answer: EVERYONE cares what other people are doing.
People join Twitter to keep up with friends, family, your favorite celebrities, co-workers, job prospects, news stories, etc., or ALL of the above.
I am following this job-search Tweeters whose sole purpose on Twitter is to post social media/PR/Ad/Marketing jobs (since those are fields of my interest) that I may not see anywhere else.
Social Media Job tweets posted jobs from any of their followers. For example, if a company is hiring an Advertising Associate in Boston, they can Direct Message @SocialMediaJob, and @SocialMediaJob will tweet the job, letting the follower (me!) see it.

CAREERALISM gives advice from top career experts on anything regarding finding a job, keeping a job, and moving up in the workplace.

I am also following my co-workers on Twitter because since we share similar interests through work, reading their tweets is beneficial to my knowledge of PR & the media. For instance, one of my co-workers recently tweeted from the rally to save the Boston Globe at Faneuil Hall, so that was pretty cool to read about. I am also just a small intern in a sea of people with tremendously impressive experience in public relations, journalism, advertising, business, marketing, etc. so I think it is a really good idea and opportunity to establish a social networking relationship with them. I love being able to share Twitterspace with people who have really done such awesome work on so many things. (Maria, obviously talking about you & our binding day.)

I don't happen to follow any celebrities outside of Joel McHale (host of E's The Soup) because I find him to be irresistibly hilarious, although he rarely updates which is sad for me. Oh, I also follow Paul Pierce because I convinced myself he'd give me free Celtics tickets (no shot.) But come on, we live in a society absolutely OBSESSED with celebrities. My friend Meg said she would love to know what Britney Spears is doing all the time. (I didn't judge her so neither should you.) She showed skepticism on it actually being the real Britney. AGAIN, it's THE REAL BRITNEY.
Now some of her updates are from her management team & website, but I've scrolled through and a good amount of them are from her herself.
Still don't believe me guys? Go to her site: http://www.britneyspears.com/
And scroll down to "Friend Britney"
Then... friend Britney. Go ahead, see what trailor park shenanigans she has gotten herself into hour by hour!

Twitter is also awesome for sharing links & quick pictures (via Twitpic) with your followers. Ask me if you need help, I think I can say I'm not at newbie status anymore. :)
So that is my free advertising for Twitter for now. It's awesome, I love it, you should too. So join and follow me. I'll follow you too.

The only time I'll ever Tweet is on Twitter. Cause let's face it, birds are terrifying.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Peter Pan Complex

I find myself having a mild panic attack about the future a good once a week now. This is not good. Yesterday, I was at Kevin's brother's house & everyone was talking about job security and loans and retirement plans so casually, while I was freaking out on the inside. I feel like I am five steps behind everyone else and there are things standing in the way that are preventing me from catching up. I understand the economy is bad, but how much longer do I have to wait before I have some sense of security? That I have some sense of knowing when I will be able to move out of my parents' house, when I will be able to put money down a new car, when I can start making the first steps to being a fully independent adult. 

Of course I am not the only one, and there are plenty others in the same boat I am. But there are also those who are not... which makes me think- where did I go wrong?

I am forever nostalgic over the times where these worries did not exist. I remember when I was so carefree, when I did not worry about things like building equity or taxes and I yearn for those days when I could just sit back, relax, and coast.

That probably doesn't sound very grown-up right now. 

Sunday, April 5, 2009

it's see ya later.

My best friend is moving to North Carolina on May 1, less than a month away, and there is nothing I can do about it. That's the first time I've actually admitted that to myself. I guess people moving away is a part of growing up, and I am truly  struggling with the concept of growing up. Not because I am not mature enough. Not because I can't handle responsibilities that come along with it. It is because once you're an adult, the ride is over. Everyone goes their separate ways, everyone is focused on work and bills and actually making something out of their life rather than just enjoying it. The small things become less significant, and the big things become more serious. There are no more careless summer nights, drinking sangria and playing cards with friends in a backyard gazebo and laughing until your sides hurt. 

And so I know I'm being a baby about it, but I am having a hard time with the fact my friend is moving away and she wont be there for me. She can't stay for me, and she can't stay for her other friends or family that will miss her, and I know that. She's so excited to be doing this for herself and she should be. She has a wonderful guy down there that I know will take care of her. I think, though, that the saying is true- There's no place like home. And while I hope North Carolina is all she wants it to be, I really do hope she moves back here some day. Marisa is like my sister. I think I may put her on a pedestal because she truly is the only person who has never let me down. I went through a lot that she was right next to me for. Happy times. My high school and, especially, college years Heartaches and breaks. The loss of my grandmother. The loss of my first love. She was there for me in ways nobody else could be, and I only hope I am as good of a friend to her as she is to me.

I know, it's not like she's dying, she's just moving away. And she'll be there to talk to and laugh with on the phone and over the computer. But it wont be the same, and I hate change. And that's just something I have to get over.